The ISMA Commission on Sports Medicine presented Sanford Kunkel, M.D., and James Moriarity, M.D., the 2011 Team Physician Award during the Indiana Athletic Trainers Association banquet in Indianapolis last month.

Sanford Kunkel, M.D.

The annual award is given to an ISMA member(s) in good standing, with 20 years experience as a team physician for an Indiana high school or organized sports team.

For nearly 23 years, Dr. Kunkel has provided medical coverage for the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, DePauw University and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. He also has served as president of the NBA Team Physician Society.

“Dr. Kunkel has had a tremendous impact on the health care of hundreds, even thousands of athletes during his career, along with outstanding support for the profession of athletic training,” wrote Brebeuf Head Athletic Trainer Joe Harvey in his nomination.

A graduate of the IU School of Medicine, Dr. Kunkel is fellowship-trained in knee and shoulder reconstruction. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at Blodgett Memorial Medical Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Dr. Moriarity was noted for his long-time service as staff physician and director of sports medicine for the University of Notre Dame football team, and men’s soccer and basketball teams. Additionally, he shares responsibility for 26 other teams at the school.

“He is a mentor for athletic trainers, as well as physicians in the sports medicine fellowship program,” noted Tony Sutton, the university’s associate athletic trainer, who nominated Dr. Moriarity.

The South Bend physician received his medical degree from the University of Southern California and completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in South Bend.